Unlocking growth across northeast and southeast London

We were proud to host an event in partnership with Local London, bringing together public and private sector leaders to explore how we unlock new development opportunities across northeast and southeast London.

We heard from an excellent lineup of speakers, including Rokhsana Fiaz (Mayor of Newham), Michelle May (London Legacy Development Corporation), and Cllr Kam Rai (Leader of Redbridge), who also launched the Local London Investment Prospectus – a clear signal of ambition for growth across the sub-region.

A standout session focused on Barking & Dagenham’s investment opportunities, led by Caroline Harper of Be First. This was followed by a candid panel discussion on unlocking stalled sites, chaired by our own Nikki Davies, with insights from representatives at LB Bromley, LB Redbridge, Vistry Group and JTP.

A gap between ambition and delivery

A consistent theme throughout the event was the gap between ambition and reality.

London was expected to deliver 88,000 homes last year, yet only around 5,000 were completed. Compared to global cities such as Melbourne and San Francisco, delivery remains significantly behind.

While government policy is more pro-development than it has been in decades, this is not yet translating into activity on the ground. Viability challenges, slow sales, and constrained cash flow continue to stall progress.

What needs to change

There was a clear call for stronger intervention from MHCLG and the Treasury to unlock the market and stimulate delivery.

In the shorter term, practical solutions were discussed, including building more incrementally, recognising cash flow constraints, and reconsidering the sequencing of infrastructure and housing delivery to get sites moving.

Housing at the centre

Housing was repeatedly highlighted as central to wider local challenges. The cost of temporary accommodation and social care is placing increasing pressure on local authority budgets.

There was broad agreement that increasing housing delivery would not only address need, but also reduce pressure on public services and unlock greater investment into communities.

A collaborative path forward

The discussion reinforced that progress depends on genuine collaboration between local authorities, developers, and communities.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to Local London for partnering with us on this important conversation.